Compared to albums by other well-known names of the time, teh ratings are quite mediocre. I happen to think them all essential, and prefer them to the subsequent higher rated TD albums, but of course I recognise that my tastes are not the most mainstream here. Zeit, which I think a masterpiece, would be a real chore for most to listen to.

I'm trying to think of how many big names of their categories would have had that kind of average for their first four albums. Commonly, the ratings went down later on into the 70's (Rush's early albums were rated lower than subsequent ones).

So they're phey're pretty average ratings, I think. I might have thought Zeit and
Atem would be rated essential., but then I guess the music is not as accessible as later albums, so that's why. Genesis' Duke is generally not
considered to be a great album, but it rates higher than Zeit., so does
And then there Were Three (which I happen to like). Rush's Vapor Trails,
and that gets disparaged quite a bit, has a higher rating. Yes' Drama
rates considerably higher. Good ratings or not, I still would have expected higher ratings.

Atem is closer to 4 and he others around the 3.5 mark. not bad for "difficult" albums. Better than average I think personally.

It's Zeit that particularly surprised me when I saw the rating before. It is an album that people are divided on, even with collab reviewers who are generally more cautious with the way they rate (me, I just rate stuff I love).

Thesse are diametrically opposed interesting reviews to compare which provided some insight to me:

What a shame!
The music consists in 2-3 humming refrigerators at the same time, plus a portative fan that
turns back and forth to make the anyway inexistent rhythm, and finally a coming cluster of
threatening killer bees!

There are tons of albums better than this one to describe the desolation once you go alone
on Mars!
The album is even not minimalist!

Rating: 0.5 star

Review by
philippeSPECIAL COLLABORATORContent Development & Krautrock Team

A deep « abstract » universe offered by this electronic, semi-acoustic meditative
Largo in four movements. The music is an « organic » & « orgasmic » evocation of the
infinite beauty, illustrated by higher world. It touches the heart and the most hidden
parts of our subconsious. The continuous sound forms largely used for each part
suggests a "catharsis" process, a purification of the spirit. In popular music I've
rarely heard a such intense and "cerebral " work. "Zeit" follows the schematic ideas
of "Alpha Centauri" but here the instrumentation is entirely focused on "loops", and
moving, floating keyboards lines. Only albums as Cluster II, Klaus Schulze's Irrlicht,
Roedelius' Acon 2000/1 or more recently "Omit" project by Clinton Williams can equal
this one in term of "introspective" achievement. Otherwise we need to look for
masterworks in electro-acoustic and minimal art researches to have a similar
experience throw time (Parmegiani, Philip Corner, Ramon Sender, Henry Jacobs.).
The first "Birth of liquid Plejades" is a "dreamy" dominated Moog synth composition.
This one is my favorite. It is a fantastic voyage throw the unknown. It includes first
hypnotic "scary" manipulated sounds, repetitive organ patterns. The second part of
the track features near, modular synth sounds in a plaintive tone, then comes a low
cello bass line. It delivers instrumental sequences amplified by electric "drone"
effects. "Nebulous Dawn" is a rather dark, creepy atmospheric tune with organ
patterns, circular noises and a vibrant cello bass. "Origins of supernatural
probabilities" starts with a rather melancholic organ melody, then during more that 10
minutes we hear mysterious soundscapes with diverse sorts of electronic
superpositions. At the end of the tune we go back to the original melody. "Zeit" (part
4) is an "abstract" synth theme with long silences and dark musical textures.
The best TD album with "Alpha Centauri" & "Atem". Nothing to do with their golden
years. I've included this one in my top 10 favorite progressive albums. A physical
dimension of sounds that demands to be lived as an experience.

Everybody I know has heard at least one TD album in their life because they're simply too major a band not to stumble upon them one way or another. The ratings reflect this IMO. However, I've never heard of this happening to Magma and UZ; their audience is much more limited, the typical niche audience. Hence the higher ratings.

Everybody I know has heard at least one TD album in their life because they're simply too major a band not to stumble upon them one way or another. The ratings reflect this IMO. However, I've never heard of this happening to Magma and UZ; their audience is much more limited, the typical niche audience. Hence the higher ratings.

Everybody I know has heard at least one TD album in their life because they're simply too major a band not to stumble upon them one way or another. The ratings reflect this IMO. However, I've never heard of this happening to Magma and UZ; their audience is much more limited, the typical niche audience. Hence the higher ratings.

I think that if Mike would stop doing refab versions of Tubular Bells, I might like him even more ... but please ... don't ever ask me if I like Amorok better than Stratosfear or anything else ... I might break something over your left toe!

But in terms of creativity, output and fearlessness, I would say that TD is much more important and what they did in music and their eventual history will probably last a lot longer than Mike will.

Edited by moshkito - April 14 2011 at 18:33

... none of the hits, none of the time ... you might actually find your own art, or self!

Interestingly Mike Oldfield owes something to TD for even having a career. Richard Branson formed Virgin records on the back of importing and selling TD albums. Oldfield offered Tubular Bells to just about every major record label but in the end it was only Branson who was prepared to give it a chance.

Interestingly Mike Oldfield owes something to TD for even having a career. Richard Branson formed Virgin records on the back of importing and selling TD albums. Oldfield offered Tubular Bells to just about every major record label but in the end it was only Branson who was prepared to give it a chance.

Thanks for the update on my family history. My wife is related to Richard Branson (although only very very very far related).

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